The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"8 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.Preach the Gospel to every creature." ! " Yeshall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and in allJudea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost partof the earth." 2This commission evidently applies not to theApostles only, but also to their successors, to theend of time, since it was utterly impossible for theApostles personally to preach to the whole world.Not only does our Lord empower His Apostlesto preach the Gospel, but He commands, and underthe most severe penalties, those to whom they preachto listen and obey. "Whosoever will not receiveyou, nor hear your words, going forth from thathouse or city, shake the dust from yourfeet. Amen,I say to you,it shall be more tolerable for the landof Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment8than for that "If city."he will not hear theChurch, let him be to thee as the heathen and the* "publican."He that believeth shall be saved ;hethat believeth not, shall be condemned." 5 "He thatheareth you, heareth Me ;he that despiseth you, despiseth Me and;he that despiseth Me, despiseth Himthat sent 6Me."From these passages, we see, on the one hand, thatthe Apostles and their successors have received fullpowers to announce the Gospel ; and on the other,that their hearers are obliged to listen with docility,1Markxvi. 15.2 Acts i. 8.3 Matt. x. 14, 15.* Matt, xviii. 17. 5Mark xvi. 16.6Luke x. 16.